One device, one battery, one question of price

You buy a cordless vacuum cleaner for 99 euros. After two years, the battery performance drops noticeably, and in the manufacturer's shop a replacement battery costs 59 euros. With spare parts, it is often only after you have bought a device that the price helps decide how cheap it really was. If you take a quick look at typical spare part prices before you buy, you avoid exactly this kind of surprise.

Why spare parts often seem more expensive than the purchase price would suggest

Manufacturers often keep the price of the main device tight, but make their money on accessories and spare parts sold separately. A battery, a filter or a replacement blade can be strikingly expensive compared with the device as a whole, precisely because it only fits that one manufacturer's product and there is no competition between several suppliers for the same part. This lack of comparison is one reason why spare part prices rarely appear in a product's advertising.

The worked example: two vacuum cleaners compared

Device A costs 99 euros, and its replacement battery costs 59 euros and lasts two years on average. Over six years of use, you need two extra batteries: 2 × 59 euros comes to 118 euros. Together with the purchase price, that makes 217 euros over six years. Device B costs more to buy at 139 euros, but the matching replacement battery is only 29 euros and also lasts about two years: 2 × 29 euros comes to 58 euros, making 197 euros in total. Over six years, device B works out 20 euros cheaper despite its higher purchase price.

Where to get a rough idea of spare part prices before you buy

A shop's product page rarely shows spare parts of its own accord. A quick search for the exact model name together with "replacement battery", "replacement filter" or "spare part" usually leads you to the manufacturer's accessories page or to a matching offer from the same shop. Where several similar models are available, this extra step is worth taking for each model individually, as spare part prices can vary considerably even within the same range of devices. A look at the category overview also helps you find similar models with different spare part costs side by side.

• Search for the exact model name plus "spare part" or "accessories", not just the product category.
• Check whether the part that wears out, such as the battery, filter or blade, is specific to the manufacturer or a common standard size.
• If several models are in the running, compare their spare part prices directly, not just the purchase price of the main device.

Availability matters just as much as price

A cheap spare part is not much use if it is only available after several weeks of delivery time, or if it is no longer stocked at all for an older model. Especially with devices you use every day, such as a coffee machine or a vacuum cleaner, it is worth checking not just the price but also whether the spare part is currently in stock or has to be ordered in first. A manufacturer that quickly drops older models from its accessories range makes a device that is cheap in itself less attractive in the long run, even if the spare part price looks low at the time you buy.

When a repair is no longer worth it

Not every spare part is worth its price. If a single spare part costs close to what a new, comparable device would cost, buying new is often the more economical decision, especially if other parts that wear out are likely to follow soon. A simple rule of thumb: if a spare part costs more than about half of the original purchase price, compare it with a complete new device before you order the part.

Legal guarantee, manufacturer's guarantee and spare parts

In the EU, a fault within the first two years after purchase is generally covered by the legal guarantee, as long as the defect was not caused by normal wear and tear or improper use. This is an EU rule; outside the EU, for example in the UK, the US or Canada, the rules and periods depend on the country. What exactly the legal guarantee covers and how it differs from a voluntary manufacturer's guarantee is explained in the article Guarantees and warranties: the difference many people mix up. If that period has already run out, or if the part is one that simply wears out, such as a battery, you usually pay for the spare part yourself, which makes the prices you estimated in advance all the more important.

A short checklist before you buy

Before you decide on a device with parts that need replacing regularly, it is worth quickly checking three points: the price of the most important spare part, how often that part typically has to be replaced, and whether it is a standard part or one made specially for that manufacturer. How repairability affects things in general is described in the article Repairs, spare parts and the right to repair. In the listed shops on daily-coupons.info, you can often compare both the main device and the matching accessories directly before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

Why are spare parts often more expensive than you would expect compared with the device?

Because spare parts usually only fit that manufacturer's product, so there is no price competition between several suppliers. The main device, by contrast, is often priced more tightly so that it looks cheap in comparison.

How do I find the price of a spare part before I buy the device?

Searching for the exact model name together with the name of the part that wears out, such as "replacement battery" or "replacement filter", usually leads you to the manufacturer's accessories page or to a matching offer in the same shop.

When is a repair no longer worth it?

As a rough guide: if a spare part costs about half of the original purchase price or more, it is worth comparing it with a new device before you decide on the repair.

Does the legal guarantee also cover worn-out batteries?

Usually not. The legal guarantee of at least two years in the EU applies to defects that were already present at the time of purchase, not to normal wear and tear such as battery performance that declines over time. Outside the EU, local rules apply.

What if a spare part for my device is no longer available at all?

Then usually the only options are buying a new device or a repair using a suitable spare part from an independent supplier, if one exists. Before buying a new device, it is therefore worth checking how long the manufacturer in question usually keeps spare parts for older models.